Echeveria plant named &#39;COLORSHIFT&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  cultivar named ‘Colorshift’ is disclosed, characterized by unique “colorshifts” of the rosette, dependent upon ambient conditions caused by seasonal changes, not observed in comparable  Echeverias.  The new variety exhibits variability of rosette color that can include violet, silvered mauve, silvered aqua and their intermediate colors. The cultivar ‘Colorshift’ also exhibits light margin colors, strongly accenting the multi-hued violet rosette. In addition, the new cultivar ‘Colorshift’ produces a display of bright, vermillion flowers, accenting the violet rosette, a contrast not exhibited by comparable  Echeveria  varieties. The new variety exhibits a robust growth habit, enabling faster production, than most comparable  Echeveria  varieties. 
     The new variety is an  Echeveria , part of the Crassulaceae complex that includes  Pachyphytum, Graptopetalum, Sedum  and others.  Echeveria  is a popular genus, typically produced as container plants, with some suitable for the landscape. Currently, there is a growing use of  Echeveria  for artistic creations for social occasions, such as weddings.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Echeveria hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘COLORSHIFT’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Echeveria cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program.The new variety originated from a cross pollination of the proprietary,unpatented, seed parent, Echeveria ‘L1-Y13’ with the pollen parent anunpatented, proprietary variety of Echeveria referred to as ‘A5-S17.’The cross pollination was made during March of 2010 in Vista, Calif., ata commercial greenhouse. The new cultivar ‘Colorshift’ was discovered bythe inventor, Renee O'Connell, in February of 2011, in Vista, Calif. atthe same commercial greenhouse.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asEcheveria The pollen parent is the unpatented, propriety varietyreferred to as Echeveria ‘A5-S17’. The new variety was discovered inFebruary of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting fromthe 2010 crossing, in a commercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Colorshift’ was firstperformed in Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by vegetativecuttings in April of 2011. ‘Colorshift’ has since produced multiplegenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘COLORSHIFT’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘COLORSHIFT’ as a new and distinct Echeveriacultivar:

1. Exhibits color change of the rosette, in reaction to changes inambient conditions, such as changes in light intensity, temperature, andday length, not found in comparable Echeveria.

2. Produces hyaline margins, contrasting dramatically with the variablerosette colors, a characteristic not found in comparable Echeveria.

3. Floriferous plants, producing inflorescences of large, brightvermillion flowers, not observed with comparable Echeveria.

4. Much more easily and rapidly propagated due to robust growth.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Echeveria ‘L1-Y13’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ differ in thefollowing;

1. Exhibit a unique color change as a reaction to changes in ambientenvironment, not exhibited by the seed parent.

2. More robust, faster growing.

3. Manifest a hyaline margin that contrasts dramatically with therosette, whereas the seed parent does not exhibit this quality.

4. The flowers of the new cultivar are much larger than those of theseed parent and have a “glowing” quality that is not exemplified by theseed parent.

5. Greater resistance to diseases and pests.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Echeveria ‘A5-S17’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ differ in thefollowing;

1. Exhibits more undulating, brighter colored leaf margins than thepollen parent.

2. Exhibits a unique color change as a reaction to changes in ambientenvironment, not exhibited by the pollen parent.

3. Flowers of the new cultivar are more vivid in color than those of thepollen parent.

4. Greater resistance to diseases and pests.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ are comparable to theunpatented, commercial variety Echeveria ‘Afterglow’. The two Echeveriavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘COLORSHIFT’ differs in the following:

1. Forms a more concentric rosette than Echeveria ‘Afterglow’, producinga more uniform, aesthetic rosette plant form.

2. Exhibits color change of the rosette, not observed in Echeveria‘Afterglow’.

3. Manifests hyaline margins in contrast to rosettes, a quality notobserved with Echeveria ‘Afterglow’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’ can also be comparable to theunpatented commercial variety Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg’. The twoEcheveria varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, the new variety ‘COLORSHIFT’ differs in the following:

1. Exhibits much more concentric rosettes.

2. Exhibits color change of the rosette, not observed in Echeveria‘Perle von Nurnberg’.

3. Much more resistant to the pathogen Rhizoctonia,

4. Produces more vividly colored and larger flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 illustrate in fullcolor typical plants of ‘COLORSHIFT’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista,Calif. These photographs exhibit some of the variability of the cultivardue to ambient changes in environment. The photographs were taken usingconventional techniques and equipment. While the colors in thesephotographs may display variances of color as compared to the livingcultivar, due to LRV (light reflectance value), they are as accurate aspossible using conventional photographic techniques. Colors in thephotographs may appear to differ slightly from the color values cited inthe botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of thenew Echeveria plant. All photographs provided by the breeder.

FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 illustrate the variable coloration of the rosetteof the new cultivar ‘COLORSHIFT’.

FIG. 6 shows the inflorescence of the new cultivar ‘Colorshift’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the PantoneProcess Color System Guide, Pantone CYMK, 2014, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘Colorshift’ plants in acommercial greenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from −1° C.to 29° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatmentsor chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural lightconditions were approximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Echeveria hybrid ‘COLORSHIFT’-   Propagation:    -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Terminal vegetative            divisions.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 17 days at approximately 21°            C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 4 months.        -   Container size of the plant described.—14 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Densely rosulate, sessile.        -   Height.—Approximately 7 cm to top of highest leaf.            Approximately 38 cm to top of highest inflorescence.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 16 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Branching characteristics.—Occasionally, when larger.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Rosulate. Average length: Approximately            8.5 cm. Widest width: Approximately 3.5 cm. Width at base:            1 cm. Shape of blade: Oblanceolate. Apex: Mucronate. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire Texture of top surface: Glabrous,            somewhat glaucous. Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous,            glaucous. Quantity of leaves per plant: Approximately 64.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side, middle of leaf Near P            108-9U Pantone. Young foliage. upper side, if glaucous            covering is removed: Near P 178-12 U Pantone. Young foliage            upper side, apex: Near P 55-9 U Pantone. Young foliage,            upper side. base: Near P 30-1 U Pantone. Young foliage,            upper side, margin: Near P 178-2 U Pantone. Young foliage,            upper side, margin near base: Near P 30-1 U Pantone. Young            foliage, under side: Near P 108-7 U Pantone. Young foliage            underside, if glaucous covering is removed: Near P 178-10U            Pantone. Young foliage under side, apex: Near P 55-1            Pantone. Young foliage. under side, base: Near P 30-1 U            Pantone. Mature foliage upper side: Near P 177-6 U Pantone.            Mature foliage upper side, apex: Near P 62-4 U Pantone.            Mature foliage, upper side, base: Near P 6-9 U Pantone.            Mature foliage upper side, margin: Near P 163-1 U Pantone.            Mature foliage, upper side, margin, near apex: Near P 57-3 U            Pantone. Mature foliage, upper side, margin, near base: Near            P 7-1 U Pantone. Mature foliage, under side: Near P 109-1 U            Pantone. Mature foliage, under side, if glaucous covering is            removed: Near P 178-6 U Pantone Mature foliage, under side,            apex: Near P 79-10 U Pantone. Mature foliage, under side,            near base: Near P 48-1 U Pantone. Mature foliage, under            side, margin: Near P 159-2 U Pantone. Venation: There is no            visual appearance of venation.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Autumn.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Erect cyme with 3 bifurcate            cincinni.        -   Rate of flower opening.—1 flower opens every 2-3 days,            depending upon ambient conditions.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—3-4 days, depending upon ambient            conditions.        -   Quantity of flowers.—63 Total Inflorescence size: Height:            Approximately 38 cm. Width: Approximately 14 cm. Corolla:            Arrangement: Actinomorphic. Size: Length: Approximately            1.9 cm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm at widest point. Lobe            Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Lobe width: Approximately            4.5 mm. Margin: Entire. Shape: Pentagonally campanulate,            tubular. Apex: Acute. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Outer            corolla: Near P 48-8 U Pantone. Outer corolla, apex: Near P            52-7 U Pantone. Inner corolla, near base: P 34-3 U Pantone.            Inner corolla, apex: Near P 48-7 U Pantone. Corolla margin:            Near P 20-5 U Pantone. Petal Color: When opening: Petal            color, outer surface: Near P 52-6 U Pantone. Petal color,            inner surface: P 48-7 U Pantone Petal Color, Fully opened:            Outer surface, near base: Near P 59-6 U Pantone. Outer            surface, apex: Near P 48-7 U Pantone. Inner surface, apex:            Near P 48-8 U Pantone. Color Changes when Aging: Near P 62-7            U Pantone. Bud: (near opening): Shape: Shortly conical.            Length: Approximately 1.3 cm Diameter: Approximately .56 cm            Color, Bud close to anthesis: Near P 55-15 U Pantone. In            longitudinal bands; intermixed with longitudinal bands of P            7-11 U Pantone. A blush of color P 67-7 Pantone was observed            near apex of bud. Bud: (further down stem; not close to            opening): Length: Approximately 1 cm Diameter: 0.5cm Bud:            (further down stem: not close to opening): Color: Near P            48-3 U Pantone glaucous color over P 168-3 U Pantone.            Sepals: Color, Back of sepal: Near P 79-11 U Pantone. Color,            Front of sepal: Near P 79-12 U Pantone. Pedicels: Length:            Approximately 1 cm Width: Approximately 0.15 cm. Aspect:            Spreading at 45° Color: Near P 64-11 U Pantone. Fragrance:            None detected.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—(Androecium) Number: Average 10 Filament Length:            Approximately 0.8 cm. Filament Color: Near P 62-7 U Pantone            Anther length: 0.25 cm. Anther Color: Near P 7-6 U Pantone.            Anther Shape: Elliptic. Pollen Color: Near P 7-5 U Pantone.        -   Pistil.—(Gymnoecium) Number: Average 5Length: Approximately            1.3 cm. Style Color: Near P 10-9 U Pantone. Stigma: Shape:            Round. Color: Near P 159-6 U Pantone. Ovary Color: Near P            11-5 U Pantone.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Fruits and seeds.—No outstanding differences noted from            typical fruits and seeds.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures from            approximately −2 C to 32 C.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Increased resistance to normal            diseases and pests of Echeveria has been observed.        -   Drought tolerance.—Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high            temperatures without supplemental water, showing no serious            damage to plant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echeveria plantnamed ‘COLORSHIFT’ as herein illustrated and described.